Posts by darkspilver

9

J.W.'s Interfaith Hypocrisy

by The Searcher in

w02 10/15 p. 27 questions from readers - "would it be a form of interfaith to purchase a building from another religious group and convert it into a kingdom hall?

"generally, jehovah’s witnesses avoid such dealings with other religions.

except when cash clarifies their thinking!.

darkspilver

The original Brooklyn Tabernacle, Hicks Street, Brooklyn, New York

Proclaimers Book, Chapter 5, page 59

n 1908, therefore, several representatives of the Watch Tower Society, including its legal counsel, Joseph F. Rutherford, were sent to New York City. Their objective? To secure property that C. T. Russell had located on an earlier trip. They purchased the old “Plymouth Bethel,” located at 13-17 Hicks Street, Brooklyn. It had served as a mission structure for the nearby Plymouth Congregational Church, where Henry Ward Beecher once served as pastor. The Society’s representatives also purchased Beecher’s former residence, a four-story brownstone at 124 Columbia Heights, a few blocks away

The original London Tabernacle, Craven Terrace, Lancaster Gate, London

Yearbook 1973, pages 95-96

Notwithstanding the mounting financial burden on the Society, in March 1911 it was deemed necessary to move into larger branch quarters in London, so the Society took over a property at 36 Craven Terrace, Lancaster Gate, London W. This had a meeting hall large enough to accommodate the growing number of believers in the London area. Formerly known as the Craven Hill Congregational Chapel, the premises were renamed London Tabernacle. It had a large gallery seating almost as many as the ground floor—in all, nearly twelve hundred.

The new Britain Bethel, Ship Road, Chelmsford, Essex

Temple Farm

9

J.W.'s Interfaith Hypocrisy

by The Searcher in

w02 10/15 p. 27 questions from readers - "would it be a form of interfaith to purchase a building from another religious group and convert it into a kingdom hall?

"generally, jehovah’s witnesses avoid such dealings with other religions.

except when cash clarifies their thinking!.

darkspilver

Watchtower 15 March 1999, pages 24 and 25

Building on Pagan Foundations
... [see scan of original below] ...
In a letter to a missionary bound for pagan Britain in 601 C.E., Gregory gave this direction: “The temples of the idols in the said country ought not to be broken; but the idols alone which be in them . . . If the said temples be well built, it is needful that they be altered from the worshipping of devils into the service of the true God.” Gregory’s idea was that if pagan peoples saw their former temples unspoiled, they might be more inclined to continue frequenting them. Whereas pagans used “to kill many oxen in sacrifice to the devils,” wrote the pope, it was now hoped that “they no more sacrifice animals to the devil but kill them to the refreshing of themselves to the praise of God.”
... [see scan of original below] ...

Link to scans

50

London K.H.'s - Which Ones Will Be Sold Off?

by The Searcher in

according to the org's website, various congregations will be moving in with other congregations, effective january 1st 2017.

(i've only highlighted a couple) in all probability, their own k.h.

is/has been sold.

darkspilver

@Searcher thank you for the heads up on the situation in London.

hmmm The Searcher rested their case on the ease of closing single use K.H.'s within the London metropolitan area - which is extremely valid reasoning.....

yes, with a higher density of population and generally better public transport - it would be generally fairly easy to move a single congregation and sell-off their K.H....

yes, they could even just merge congregations - 3-into-2 - and sell-off the now disused K.H....

yes, I can very easily see this happening....

but, the problem was that out of the 35 K.H.'s that The Searcher listed - they were used by an average of 3.5 congregations each!!....

therefore, I listed four K.H.s that I believed were single use (though they're more in the suburbs) - these are the ones that are much more likely to be sell-off AND NOT REPLACED.

@darkspilver - your comments are annoying.

In line with The Searcher's OP, I'm interested in seeing a list of single use K.H.s within the London metropolitan
area in anticipation of a 'sell-off', sorry if that's annoying

4

So When Do You Think The Watchtower Sign Will Come Down in Brooklyn?

by Wild_Thing in

jw
friends

i think we should have a street party in brooklyn when it happens!

it would be a "tearing down of the berlin wall" type of celebration!

i would totally fly to new york for that!

darkspilver

Well, it was a 'Squibb' sign before WT took over the building

It's a classic New York style sign - I reckon the new owners will just replace it with a new name in the same style.

Link

The sign for Kentile Floors, on Ninth Street in Gowanus, harks back to a time when Brooklyn was synonymous with industry — and probably asbestos.

The Eagle Clothing sign, visible from Second Avenue in Gowanus, is another example of classic sign — one that reminds our editor’s dad of suits he once purchased.

This “. R” sign in Red Hook, at the intersection of Delavan and Richard streets, is our favorite. It once said “E.J. Trum,” for a paper product manufacturer. A furniture store took its place and tried to tear down the letters — but the R and one of the periods remain.

9

J.W.'s Interfaith Hypocrisy

by The Searcher in

w02 10/15 p. 27 questions from readers - "would it be a form of interfaith to purchase a building from another religious group and convert it into a kingdom hall?

"generally, jehovah’s witnesses avoid such dealings with other religions.

except when cash clarifies their thinking!.

darkspilver

Hey The Search!

Let's have a read of the complete thing, along with the additional footnote reference, just sayin'!

BTW, how's the search going?

Watchtower 15 October 2002, page 27

Questions From Readers: Would it be a form of interfaith to purchase a building from another religious group and convert it into a Kingdom Hall?
Generally, Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid such dealings with other religions. Still, such a transaction may not constitute an act of interfaith. It may simply be viewed as a one-time business deal. The local congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses is not collaborating with another religious group to build a place of worship to be used by both parties.
... [see scan of original below] ...
[Footnote] See The Watchtower, April 15, 1999, pages 28 and 29, for information on the appropriateness of business dealings with organizations that are disapproved by Jehovah.
... [see scan of original W99 4/15 p28-29 below] ...

Link to scans

19

Awake! Magazine April 22 1970

by pale.emperor in

was doing some research this evening and i think ive found possibly the most damaging awake magazine issue the jw's could have printed.

april 22nd 1970. you can download the entire 1970 volume here: http://da-ip.getmyip.com:8080/pdf/old%20publications/?sort=d.

in this issue, the watchtower calls other religions on their hypocrisy for changing doctrine, upbeat music in their services, the clergy meddling in worldly affairs (un anyone?

darkspilver

Hey pale.emperor!

Awake! 22 April 1970 ('Special Edition') pages 3 to 28

CHANGES IN THE CHURCHES - WHAT DO THEY MEAN FOR YOU?

What's Happening in the Churches?
Why Religious Leaders Are Worried
Changes That Disturb People
Should Meat Be Eaten on Friday?
Dropping of Saints Causes Confusion
What's Going On at Church Services
Divisions in the Churches — Add to Confusion
Birth - Control Issue Divides Church
Should Priests Be Free to Marry?
Teachings in Conflict
Involvement in Worldly Affairs Disturbs Many
What Will Happen to the Churches?—The Meaning for You
How to Identify the True Religion
The Wise Course to Take

Link to scans

50

London K.H.'s - Which Ones Will Be Sold Off?

by The Searcher in

according to the org's website, various congregations will be moving in with other congregations, effective january 1st 2017.

(i've only highlighted a couple) in all probability, their own k.h.

is/has been sold.

darkspilver

Hey The Searcher!

how's your search for single use K.H.'s in London getting on? Be interesting to see how many are used by just one congregation.... as these are the most likely to be the first to go....

32

Using the term "Watchtower" when talking to a JW

by Sanchy in

jw
friends

has anyone else noticed how alarm bells go off inside a jw mind as soon as they hear someone that "is out" refer to the leaders of this org as "watchtower"?

i've chatted with a few friends now about my doubts and each and every time i've started using phrases such as "watchtower said this" or "watchtower did that", i can almost see their heads about to explode in anger, as if they've just realized they are talking to the lucifer himself.

some have even interrupted and corrected me by reminding me that it's not "watchtower", it's "god's organization".

darkspilver

as polish clarinet said above......

Watchtower 15 March 2000, page 32

What She Misses About New York City
The sign seen here has been prominently displayed on one of the Watchtower Society’s factory buildings in Brooklyn, New York, since the 1950’s.

link to scan

43

May 22 1969 Awake!

by zeb in

jw
friends

"if you are a young person you need to face the fact you will never grow old in this system of things.. why not?

because all the evidence in fulfilment of bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years...as a young person you will never fulfil any career that this system offers".

may 22 awake!

darkspilver

Hey zeb!

May 22 Awake! of 1969.
(This was removed from public access)

How was it removed? on any reprints it was missing.

Ah yes, it was missing from the reprints - oh, but, wait, no....

Only the Watchtower bound volumes were ever reprinted.

And actually, although that project was definitely started - I believe it was probably never finished due to technology overtaking it with the release of the Watchower Library on CD......

Kingdom Ministry October 1987, page 8

Reprint of Watchtower Bound Volumes
What a wonderful provision the Watch Tower Publications Index 1930-1985 is for research and study! However, many brothers do not have in their personal or Kingdom Hall library all the publications referred to in the Index. In order to help provide some of this material, the Society is planning a reprint of The Watchtower bound volumes for the years 1960 through 1979, in English only. These reprints will be produced as we are able to work them into our schedule. It is our intention to make these available five volumes at a time. Orders for the years 1960 through 1964 will be accepted during November.

Link to scan

43

May 22 1969 Awake!

by zeb in

jw
friends

"if you are a young person you need to face the fact you will never grow old in this system of things.. why not?

because all the evidence in fulfilment of bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years...as a young person you will never fulfil any career that this system offers".

may 22 awake!

darkspilver

Hey zeb!

And secondly, I'm calling you out.....

(oh, and feel free to have a chat with both Gorbatchov about jewish women and The Searcher about kingdom halls)